References

Bauer, C. L. (1991). Logistic versus Decaying Exponential Equations for Describing Mail
Survey Response Curves: A Conceptual Rationale and Reanalysis. Journal Of Direct
Marketing, 5(1), 15-26.
Bauer generates an explicit comparison between the logistic and decaying exponential
equations and accommodates an explanation on how the decaying exponential equations
describe the accumulated mail survey response curve. In addition, the author provides a
conceptual basis for guiding the selection of an equation to describe accumulated
responses from mail surveys. Throughout the article, Bauer presents informative graphs
and statistics to exemplify how the growth curves are essential in determining which
equations apply to certain circumstances and to support her statement. Moreover, the
organization and the structure of the article are dexterous to the work and allow the
audience to understand with ease. Despite its strengths, the information is outdated since
1991; future research can reinforce its material and offer more credibility to the author.
Otherwise, Bauer received her PhD in communications from Michigan State University,
and now, she teaches marketing at the College of Business Administration at Marquette
University.
Carrillo, M. (2003). Growth, Life Cycle and Dynamic Modelling. Mathematical & Computer
Modelling Of Dynamical Systems, 9(2), 121-136.
In Growth, Life Cycle and Dynamic Modelling, Carrillo describes how growth and
diffusion processes are analyzed by the sigmoidal curve. Although they are different
processes, they share a distinct characteristic: they display a continuous increase in a

certain variable with time. Not only do these processes apply to the biological life cycle
of an organism, but also they apply to technology processes or sales of a new product.
The author offers graphs or figures for each section of the article to correlate with her
justifications. In addition, she reveals an abundant knowledge and capability in math as
she uses equations in modelling sigmoidal growth. At the same time, the terminology of
the math equations and its demonstrations can be difficult to apprehend especially for an
audience who are not advance in the subject. Above all, Carrillo works under the
Department of Applied Economics at the University of Lagoon in Tenerife, Spain.
Grzebyk, M., & Stec, M. (2015). Sustainable Development in EU Countries: Concept and Rating
of Levels of Development. Sustainable Development, 23(2), 110-123.
doi:10.1002/sd.1577
The authors conduct comparisons of levels and valuations of advances of the European
Union (EU) countries to establish the measure of the level of sustainable development.
Economic, social, and environmental are the three elements considered for sustainable
development. Based on their studies from 2005-2012, it concludes that ongoing gradual
advances occurs in the implementation of the concepts of sustainable development,
however, the countries still demonstrates measures of sustainability below the EU
average levels. Moreover, the authors present information supported with tables and
graphs, which indicates the changes of sustainable development over time. Furthermore,
their research shows how to determine the synthetic measure of levels of sustainable
development under the method of multidimensional comparative analysis. Although this
may be true, the language of this article is arduous to interpret as an ordinary audience.
The authors use of advanced formulas and calculations exhibits great knowledge, which

can be difficult for the reader to understand. Otherwise, both authors work under the
Department of Economics and Management at the University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow,
Poland.
Hill, R. W. (1981). Using S-Shaped Curves to Predict Response Rates. Journal Of Marketing
Research (JMR), 18(2), 240-242.
Hill construes how he acquired the BMDP3R to fit several variations of logistics and
curves of data based on Huxleys model of exponential growth. This article reveals that
S-shaped curves give realistic estimates of study on ultimate response rate and can
predict the speed of response as well as the ultimate response rates. The author proves
this by using the data from Huxleys tables and applying formulas to indicate how these
estimates come about. Furthermore, Hill expresses excellent math skills and calculations
in determining the ultimate response rates and utilizes the graphs to support his answers;
he also references credible individuals in his research. Although this may be true, the
length of the article is limited since it is only three pages. Additional information could
be corresponded to strengthen the article and help the reader to gain more knowledge
about the content. Nevertheless, Hill is a research statistician for A.C. Nielsen
Management Services at Lucerne, Switzerland.
Iqbal, I., & Pierson, C. (2016). A NORTH-SOUTH STRUGGLE: POLITICAL AND
ECONOMIC OBSTACLES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Sustainable
Development Law & Policy, 16(2), 16-47.
In this article, the authors analyze how economic growth and environmental protection
contribute to sustainable development. The article is composed of four sections - the

origins of sustainable development, the United States resistance to sustainable

development, how world-trading systems correlate with sustainable development, and
other obstacles to sustainable development - that provides reasoning and explanations for
these occurrences. Moreover, these obstacles are what affect sustainable development:
structural impediments, normative uncertainty, and the clash between North and South on
intragenerational equity. Iqbal and Pierson use evidence to compare/contrast of
prominent organizations such as the Obama Administration and the Bush Administration
to support their claim. Furthermore, they apply cause/effect to demonstrate the
importance of sustainable development and the consequences that may follow. However,
the article does lack statistical data and does not provide an effective solution on how the
human race can maintain sustainable development as the United States is resisting to it.
In addition to their invaluable information, Iqbal is an associate professor at University of
Maryland University College, and Pierson is a J.D. at Duquesne University School of
Law.
LZRESCU, C., BOI, M., & PRIBEANU, G. (2016). SUSTAINABLE RURAL
DEVELOPMENT IN THE CURRENT CONTEXT. Agricultural Management / Lucrari
Stiintifice Seria I, Management Agricol, 18(1), 131-136.
In Sustainable Rural Development in the Current Context, the article addresses the issue
of sustainable development in rural areas. The authors claim that the increase of
competition in agriculture, forestry, and food sector is important for revival of the rural
area. Sustainable development can only be attained in development programs and
landscaping of the territory in those areas. However, there is an emerging problem of
rural development and landscaping, which present a high degree of complexity taking

into account and balances of preserving the economic, ecological, social, and cultural
space and the modernization of rural life. Additionally, the authors organization of their
facts and data makes the reader understand without difficulty and supports their assertion;
their syntax indicates valuable knowledge of their research and creates natural fluency.
However, because three authors wrote the article, it is short in length, although additional
information can enhance its material. Nevertheless, Lazarescu and Boita attend from the
Western University of Arad, Romania and Pribeanu attends from the Banats University
of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.
Murtin, F. (2013). LONG-TERM DETERMINANTS OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC
TRANSITION, 1870-2000. Review Of Economics & Statistics, 95(2), 617-631.
This article evaluates the long-term economic determinants of the demographic
transitions using various countries since 1870 and identifies the factors that contribute to
its demographic transition such as education, health care improvement, and income. More
importantly, Murtin highlights that education is the primary socioeconomic determinant
of demographic transition, which proves the predications created by the unified growth
theory. Based on the article, the author provides historical evidence on demographic
transition from 1870-2000 to support his assertion on the significant role of education,
improved heath, and the income per capita that attributes to the decline in mortality,
fertility, and population growth. Furthermore, his statistical information of graphs, charts,
and formulas help implements the framework of Murtins claim and delivers the
explanations of their demographic transitions. Despite the authors erudition and data
shown, the article is obsolete because of its information dating back from 1870. Also,
other circumstances after 2000 may have contributed in each of the countries

demographic transition effecting its mortality, fertility, and population growth.

Nonetheless, he affiliates with the Organization of Economic Cooperation and
Development.
Olsen, R. J. (1983). Mortality Rates, Mortality Events, and the Number of Births. American
Economic Review, 73(2), 29.
Mortality Rates, Mortality Events, and the Number of Births elaborate on the replacement
hypothesis, which uses new methods that applies to cross-sectional data on families to
investigate the central issue in transition theory. Replacement describes the process by
which higher mortality translates into higher fertility; channels that run through
replacement are direct, hoarding, societal, and biological. In addition, the article
demonstrates the effects of direct, boarding, and biological replacement. To support his
hypothesis, Olsen obtains data from the Malaysian Family Life Survey to explain its
method, and as a result, the rate of replacement ranges from thirty to forty percent.
Furthermore, he indicates in the data that breastfeeding is interpreted as a means of
contraception. However, the article does contain drawbacks in which he uses his own
1980 research paper as one of his references to aid his claim. Above all, Olsen works in
the Department of Economics at Ohio State University.
Yaakob, U. H., & Md Nor, N. F. (2013). THE PROCESS AND EFFECTS OF DEMOGRAPHIC
TRANSITION IN PENANG, MALAYSIA. Kajian Malaysia: Journal Of Malaysian
Studies, 31(2), 37-64.
Based on the demographic transition theory, the article elucidates the demographic
transition in Penang, Malaysia. The country presents a decrease of birth and death rates,

which are associated with the improvement of living and the opportunities to women.
Additionally, the authors emphasize the importance of socio-economic development of
urbanization, industrialization, and modernization that have influenced the fertility rates
and its marriage patterns. The article provides graphs and charts to support their statistical
information and claim; it explains the changing fertility and mortality levels in the
country from early 1950s until early 2000s based on the data. Furthermore, their studies
show that a variety of development factors have played a critical role in decreasing the
fertility rate and an increase in the aging population. Although they give detailed
information, it is outdated since their use of data records from 1911 to 2010. Likewise,
other indicators of development in the future may have contributed to its demographic
transition, therefore changings its rates of fertility, birth, and death. Even so, both of the
authors attended the School of Humanities at Universiti Sains Malaysia.